9. Surah At Tawbah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتُّم مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنقُصُوكُمْ شَيْئًا...   

9: 4.     (But the treaties are) not dissolved with those pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught,

C1249. The sacred duty of fulfilling all obligations of every kind, to Muslims and non Muslims, in public as well as private life, is a cardinal feature of Muslim ethics.

The question what is to be done with those who abuse this principle by failing in their duty but expect the Muslims to do their part is not to be solved (in the case of treaties) by a general denunciation of treaties but by a careful consideration of the cases where there has been fidelity and not treachery.

There we are enjoined to give the strictest fidelity, as it is a part of righteousness and our duty to Allah.

وَلَمْ يُظَاهِرُواْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا ...

nor aided anyone against you.

... فَأَتِمُّواْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَى مُدَّتِهِمْ...

So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of their term:

...إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٤﴾

for Allah loveth the righteous.

كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ عَهْدٌ عِندَ اللّهِ وَعِندَ رَسُولِهِ...   

9: 7.     How can there be a league before Allah and His Messenger, with the pagans,

...إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ عَاهَدتُّمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ...

except those with whom ye made a treaty near the sacred mosque?

C1255. In this section we have the reasons why the treaties with treacherous Pagan foes were denounced.

The clause introducing the exception is a parenthetical clause. The word "Pagans" must be connected with verse 8 which follows. In that verse the word kaifa resumes the clause introduced by the wordkaifa at the beginning of verse 7.

The exceptional Pagan tribes which remained true to their word were the Banu Hamza and the Banu Kinana, who swore their treaty near the Sacred Mosque and faithfully observed it. They were to be given the full benefit of their fidelity even though their kindred tribes were treacherous.

... فَمَا اسْتَقَامُواْ لَكُمْ فَاسْتَقِيمُواْ لَهُمْ...

As long as these stand true to you, stand ye true to them:

...إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٧﴾

For Allah doth love the righteous.

Asad’s Version:

9: 4 [But the treaties are ] not dissolved with those Pagans with whom you have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. So fulfil your engagements with them to the end of-their term: for God love the righteous.

[ Ali’s note 1249: The sacred duty of fulfilling all obligations of every kind, to Muslims and non-Muslims in public as well as private life, is a cardinal feature of Muslim ethics.]

9: 7 How can there be a league, before God and His Apostle, with the Pagans, except those with whom you may a treaty near the Sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you, stand you true to them: for God does love the righteous.

9: 7 How can there be a league, before God and His Apostle, with the Pagans, except those with whom you made a treaty near the Sacred Mosque? As long as these stand true to you, stand you true to them: for God do love the righteous.